Research summary
Music is often used for political purposes. For example, it can serve as a propaganda tool in the hands of the authorities, or as a means of resistance employed by musicians and their audiences. Dr. Marie-Hélène Benoit-Otis, Canada Research Chair in Music and Politics, aims to better understand how and why music can be used for political discourse, which varies greatly by time and place. Ultimately, Benoit-Otis and her research team are seeking to classify the various political roles that music and musicians can play in the public square, particularly in contemporary societies.